Priest Removed From Church Over Alleged Sex Abuse Was Employed By LAUSD

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A former priest allegedly named in the Los Angeles Archdiocese Catholic church sex abuse scandal may be employed by the Los Angeles Unified School District, CBS2 has learned.

In documents released by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles last week, CBS2’s Louisa Hodge reports that 129 pages outline Joseph D. Piña’s alleged sexual abuse of a young girl years ago.

After the alleged abuse came to light, Hodge reports that Piña was sent to a psychiatrist for evaluation in which he told one therapist he saw his sexual relationship as a “boyfriend-girlfriend relationship.”

Following that psychological evaluation, the therapist concluded, “I do not believe Father Piña is capable of proceeding with business as usual. He remains a serious risk for acting out.”

Piña left the church in March of 1998 after 26 years of service. Before leaving, he read a letter to his parishioners in which he said in part, “For all of these inappropriate behaviors, I am truly sorry.”

The documents show that Piña was subsequently employed by LAUSD.

KCET reported Saturday evening that Piña remains employed by the school district as a community outreach organizer.

CBS2 has confirmed that the LAUSD has a community outreach organizer by the name of Joseph D. Piña.

The LA Times reported Sunday that Pina was removed from his LAUSD job over the weekend.

LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy told the paper that Pina did not work with children in his job.

Pina was reportedly laid off from a full-time job sometime last year but was working on occasion as an organizer of events, according to the Times report.